A practical nurse (PN) is assessing a client who is 6 hours postoperative following a total abdominal hysterectomy. The PN is evaluating the client's current clinical status. Which of the following findings indicates a potential life-threatening complication that requires the most urgent escalation to the registered nurse (RN)?
- AThe morning laboratory report indicates a serum potassium level of 3.8 mEq/L and a white blood cell (WBC) count of 11,400/mm³.
- BThe client reports a pain severity of 6 on a 0 to 10 scale when turning in bed and requests the prescribed oral analgesic.
- The client's heart rate has progressively increased from 76 to 118 beats per minute over the past three hours, and the current blood pressure is 98/60 mm Hg.Cevap
- DThe client prefers to lie in a semi-Fowler's position with the knees slightly flexed to reduce tension on the abdominal incision.
Cevap
The finding of a progressively increasing heart rate combined with borderline hypotension.
The correct answer identifies a trend of tachycardia (heart rate increasing from 76 to 118 bpm) paired with borderline hypotension (98/60 mm Hg). In a client who is 6 hours postoperative following major abdominal surgery, these are classic early compensatory signs of hypovolemic shock, most likely due to internal hemorrhage. The practical nurse must recognize this life-threatening trend immediately and escalate it to the registered nurse so that rapid interventions (such as fluid resuscitation, blood transfusion, or surgical re-exploration) can be initiated.
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Recognizing Early Signs of Shock in the Postoperative Client